East Quebec

		East Quebec VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

From the cities to the country now as we followed the St. Lawrence Seaway out to the Atlantic on the road that hugs the water. This road is called “The Acadian Highway” and is rich in Acadian history. There was blazing fireweed everywhere along the road. The small villages had quaint small homes right on the waterfront, with huge lots. There are New England types of homes from the British Loyalists coming up here from Maine, NH, & Vermont. The coastline reminded us of Big Sur with rugged cliffs and rocky coastlines instead of beaches. Gorgeous! Forrillon National Park on the Atlantic in Quebec is like walking through a postcard. The (Gaspesie) peninsula location was the 3^rd most beautiful destination in the world one year according to the National Geographic Society. Off the shores of Forillon NP are 7 species of whales, including the blue whale, the largest on the planet, weighing up to 145 tons. The tip of this peninsula is the end point of the “International Appalachian Trail” going from Maine to “Lands End” and the mountains literally drop off into the sea at that point. There was amazing scenery with views of a lighthouse, the cliffs that fall into the sea, abundant, healthy, lush green forests, and the treat of seeing a group of grey seals. They have a long snout, so are nicknamed “horse head seals.” We also saw a whale spouting and diving but couldn’t tell what kind. The St. Lawrence current (similar to the Gulf Stream Current) goes past this point and into the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the whales are go along with that current which is why there are so many here. We drove past village after village all with small cottage-homes with beautiful gardens and large waterfront land. They have cords and cords of wood stacked up behind them so it must get really cold up here. The English proficiency has fallen off dramatically from the larger cities but we manage to get understood. Quebec was fantastique and felt like being in France in so many ways. On to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.